Adam W. York
Education
Ph.D. Polymer Science and Engineering The University of Southern Mississippi	May 2009 (Projected Date) Hattiesburg, MS
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering University of Colorado	May 2004 Boulder, CO
Research Interests
· Complexation of small interfering RNA (siRNA) with block copolymers · Protection of siRNA from various nucleases through the use of a polymeric carrier · Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization · Synthesis of drug/gene carriers and their bioconjugation with model compounds
Current Research Activities
My research involves the synthesis and characterization of statistical and block copolymers that have applications in drug or gene delivery. My focus is on the complexation of siRNA with block copolymers. These block copolymers consist of a hydrophilic block and a cationic block. These blocks form complexes with siRNA through electrostatic interactions between the positively charged cationic block and the negatively charged siRNA. The hydrophilic block is used to stabilize these block ionomer complexes in aqueous media. The molecular weight, length and nature of the cationic block, as well as the size of the complexes are important parameters that must be controlled. In order to control these variables the controlled radical polymerization technique RAFT is used. RAFT allows the facile synthesis of water soluble biocompatible polymers that have well defined molecular weights with precise architectures and predetermined end group functionality. This end group functionality allows easy conjugation of model drug compounds or fluorescent dyes to the polymer chain end. siRNA is a recently discovered technology that ultimately leads to gene “silencing” through the cleavage of messenger RNA. siRNA cannot be delivered directly into the blood stream because it has a half-life on the order of seconds. In order to prolong the circulation of the siRNA it must be associated with a gene carrier. This carrier must not only increase the circulation half-life, but also protect the siRNA from degradative enzymes while still allowing the siRNA to be released at the site of infection. Utilizing RAFT technology will allow the fine tuning of the gene carrier in order to meet the above specifications.
Previous Research Experience
Baxter Hemoglobin Therapeutics	Boulder, CO	August 2001-December 2003
During my sophomore year as an undergraduate I became one of the first students to become a part of a cooperative education program that was developed by the chemical engineering department at the University of Colorado. This five year program gave me the opportunity to work for two semesters and two summers with Baxter Hemoglobin Therapeutics. Once hired, I became a part of the process development team that worked on optimizing the production of recombinant hemoglobin. This was exciting because recombinant hemoglobin could be transfused to any patient with any blood type, thus eliminating the need to match blood types between the patient and the donor. I worked on a number of projects during my time at Baxter. These included: the implementation of a new peristaltic pump that could interact favorably with hemoglobin, the design of a depth filtration unit for the upstream process of hemoglobin, protein purification through immobilized metal affinity chromatography, buffer solution studies and scale up for a start up plant, validation work for Baxter’s hemoglobin pilot plant, and various other responsibilities for the production of recombinant hemoglobin at a laboratory scale.
Collaborators
Faqing Huang, Ph.D. The University of Southern Mississippi (Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry)